Stryper Murder by Pride
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
Back for their seventh studio release, Stryper returns with Murder by Pride, and by creating music that is “Christian,” but also talented, palatable, and doesn’t rely on an “automatic” audience to purchase their records. With over 8 million album sales, it’s obvious they are one of the few bands to cross into the mainstream based on sheer talent. If their message doesn’t hit you, their music sure as hell does …
“Eclipse of the Sun” opens the release, a fast-paced burner with an almost Classic Rock vibe, especially with the soaring backing vocals. Robert Sweet on drums is a rhythmic maniac, as always, and few singers out there have ever been able to compete with the range of lead singer Michael Sweet. Still, it falls flat as the first track.
Had they started with “4 Leaf Clover,” well, that would have torn up some eardrums. But it’s second, so no worries. “4 Leaf Clover” owns a dirty groove, angry and muscular. The song itself is somehow mournful and uplifting, a dichotomy often apparent in Christian Heavy Metal. The refrain, “No death when it’s over,” slaps you upside the head a few times, especially when Sweet rages into a scream right off of To Hell With the Devil after the guitar solo. Best song on the release, hands down.
As you are probably aware, Michael Sweet spent some time in the band Boston, so they covered “Peace of Mind.” They shouldn’t have.
If you are looking for “Honestly,” you’ll get that a few times. The first time is on “Alive,” and it’s beautiful, haunting, morose, and nearly perfect. If you ever liked power ballads, this is going to reawaken those syrupy emotions, in a good way.
The title track, “Murder by Pride,” is another highlight of the release. It’s bass heavy, with Tracie Ferrie thumping like mad, and the harsh riffing of Oz Fox creates a caustic counterpoint to Michael’s polished vocals. The chorus is the real strength here, melodic, memorable and full of fevered leads.
“I Believe” is probably the one time they went a little too far. “I believe in life and life believes in me. I believe in God and what he sees me in.” It’s Stryper, though, and you take the great with the just-good.
Speaking of great, “Run in You” is a curiously paced semi-ballad with keys, acoustic passages, and a breathy vocal delivery from Michael Sweet. It almost gets bluesy, almost, with the bass line. It all crescendos to a classic Stryper hit. In fact, it almost sounds like they are channeling Boston again, but since it’s original, it is praiseworthy.
Losing someone you love is terrible, and inevitable, and Michael Sweet brings both together on “My Love, My Life, My Flame,” a bonus track. It’s a piano ballad, and it’s so sorrow-laden you might have to have your tear ducts removed if you want to be a macho man when listening to it. “I love you more tomorrow, than I love you today. I love you in the sorrow, when unexpected pain. I love you in the sunlight and in the pouring rain … my love, my life, my flame.” Again, Stryper is both uplifting and sorrowful all at once, maybe one of the reasons any music fan can find something to glom onto in their music.
Their goal was to have more guitars and screams on this release, compared to Reborn. “4 Leaf Clover” achieves that goal, but not Murder by Pride in totality. Nevertheless, it’s a step in the right direction, and Stryper have solidly if unassumingly put themselves back in the narrative with Murder by Pride.
Label: Frontiers Records
Track listing:
1. Eclipse Of The Son
2. 4 Leaf Clover
3. Peace Of Mind
4. Alive
5. The Plan
6. Murder By Pride
7. I Believe
8. Run In You
9. Love Is Why
10. Mercy Over Blame
11. Everything
12. My Love (I’ll Always Show)
13. My Love, My Life, My Flame (Bonus Track)
HRH Rating: 7.4/10